Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation Conclude Green Works with Increased Global Commitment to Plant Trees and Support Environmental Projects

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa Foundation marked the end of its two-month Green Works employee volunteer environmental service program today by increasing its support to the Friends of Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland and American Forests’ Global ReLeaf, two organizations committed to environmental replenishment.

Alcoa (NYSE: AA) leaders and employees concluded the Green Works program in Iceland by planting 125 trees in Reydarfjordur, where the Alcoa Fjardaál smelter is located. Following the tree planting, Alcoa Iceland contributed US$700,000 to the Friends of Vatnajökull National Park to support education, research and environmental projects at Vatnajökull National Park, the largest national park in Europe.

In addition, Alcoa Foundation added US$200,000 to an American Forests’ Global ReLeaf grant awarded earlier this year that focuses on environmental restoration projects in Alcoa communities worldwide. The increase brings the total of the grant to US$800,000. The organization will assist Alcoa with its Ten Million Trees initiative over three years.

“Alcoa is committed to sustainability, which includes taking care of our forests,” said Paula Davis, President, Alcoa Foundation. “Planting 10 million trees can absorb more than 250,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year and make a significant difference in our quality of life across the globe.”

This year, Global ReLeaf will award mini grants to 22 qualified NGO and environmental organizations that will work with Alcoa employees across the globe to plant trees in their local communities. Only native tree species will be planted to maintain the integrity of the environment. The grant will facilitate the planting of more than 225,000 trees and aligns with Alcoa Foundation’s sustainability focus to “Reduce, Recycle and Replenish.”

“Alcoa understands how important forests are for sustaining the health of the planet and the well-being of all its inhabitants,” said Scott Steen, CEO, American Forests. “We are deeply grateful for Alcoa’s partnership with American Forests to protect and restore these vital ecosystems.”

About Alcoa’s Ten Million Trees InitiativeSince 2003, more than 3.5 million trees have been planted as part of Alcoa’s efforts to strengthen the communities where Alcoa employees live and work. The Ten Million Trees initiative encourages employees to take an active role in conserving flora and fauna, managing biodiversity, enhancing parks and land use, and promoting reforestation in partnership with their families, local community groups and customers.

Launched on Earth Day in 2003, Ten Million Trees grew from the successful One Million Trees program, which began in 1998 with the goal of Alcoa planting a million trees within 10 years. Employees and their families at more than 140 Alcoa locations in 20 countries raced to that goal in half the time expected.

About Alcoa FoundationAlcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the U.S., with assets of approximately US$436 million. Founded more than 50 years ago, Alcoa Foundation has invested more than US$530 million since 1952. In 2010, Alcoa Foundation contributed nearly US$20 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the world, focusing on promoting environmental stewardship, enabling economic and social sustainability, and preparing tomorrow’s leaders through education and learning. The work of Alcoa Foundation is further enhanced by Alcoa’s thousands of employee volunteers, who in 2010 gave more than 720,000 service hours. Through the company’s signature Month of Service (October) program, Alcoa employees share their energy, passion and purpose to make a difference in our communities. In 2010, a record 49 percent of Alcoans took part in nearly 1,000 Month of Service events across 24 countries, reaching 59,000 children, serving 17,000 meals, planting 16,000 trees and supporting 3,000 nonprofit organizations. For more information about Alcoa Foundation, please access www.alcoa.com/foundation.

About AlcoaAlcoa (NYSE:AA) is the world’s leading producer of primary and fabricated aluminum, as well as the world’s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for nine consecutive years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 59,000 people in 31 countries across the world. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.

About American Forests' Global ReLeafAmerican Forests is focused on restoring and protecting urban and rural forests. Founded in 1875, the oldest national non-profit conservation organization in the country has served as a catalyst for many of the most important milestones in the conservation movement, including the founding of the U.S. Forest Service, the national forest and national park systems, and literally thousands of forest ecosystem restoration projects and public education efforts. Since 1990, American Forests has planted nearly 40 million trees in forests throughout the U.S. and beyond, resulting in cleaner air and drinking water, restored habitat for wildlife and fish, and the removal of millions of tons of carbon from the atmosphere. Learn more at www.americanforests.org.

Members of the Tree Planting Association of Reyðarfjörður, Iceland, joined Alcoa employees in planting 125 trees near the Alcoa Fjardaál aluminum smelter in Reyðarfjörður. The tree planting activity concluded the Alcoa Green Works employee environmental service program and supported the company‘s Ten Million Trees initiative. Alcoa‘s goal is to plant 10 million new trees, which can absorb 250,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year during their lifetime, by 2020.